The Caguas Creoles added their sixth scepter to the thread last night in the way they least imagined. There were no big celebrations let alone played.
The Cagüeño sextet was proclaimed champion of the 2021 edition of the Women’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSF) after a drastic decision by the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation (FPV) to disqualify the Sanjuaneras de la Capital for being absent of the first game of the final series in protest mode.
The sanction imposed by the president of the FPV, Dr. César Trabanco, includes a one-year suspension from the LVSF to the players and members of the coaching staff.
The punishment takes place after the sextet’s attorney, the engineer Marc Martínez, decided not to participate in the final until a lawsuit filed in the Court of First Instance of San Juan was resolved over the controversy over the replacement of the reinforcement. Destinee Hooker for the cause of “high risk” pregnancies.
Tournament director Josep “Picky” Servera graduate initially ruled that tournament regulations only allow substitutions in the postseason when the reason is an injury. The same was later concluded by the president of the FPV, and the Court of Appeals and Sports Arbitration (TAAD) of the Olympic Committee of Puerto Rico (Copur).
As a result of these failures against them, the Sanjuaneras did not attend the first match of the final, which would be held last Saturday, at the coliseum Roger Mendoza, in Caguas. Yesterday’s game was canceled by the league, but the intention was not to show up either.
The decision of the federal body did not take by surprise the representative of the Sanjuaneras because the league – through Servera – had warned of serious sanctions against the sextet for his absence on Saturday.
“It was to be expected,” Martinez acknowledged the spokesman.
“What amazes me is that my employees have been sanctioned. It’s totally unfair. They had no choice. It was me who made the decision. They had to abide by the instructions. They have no guilt or responsibility for my decisions.” he held the attorney in a faint voice and few words to react to his severe punishment.
Martinez understands that Trabanco’s determination is not appealable. Nor had he had time to think about the future of the lawsuit pending in court that would turn out to be academic after the sudden cancellation of the final series by the FPV.
“I don’t think that’s what the fans were expecting. It’s amazing that they mention equality and competitive level when arbitrary decisions are made putting a team at a disadvantage,” he criticized.
bittersweet celebration
Meanwhile, in Caguas, the celebration was bittersweet because they were hoping to fight for the championship on the track.
“A little sad with the situation. I didn’t want to win like that. I wanted to win on the court. Anything means we are happy. But here we all lose. I’m very sorry,” said the Creole representative, Francisco “Furiel “Branches.
Ramos will award the financial bonuses corresponding to the championship to all its players. “It’s still a championship. But it will go down in history because he (Martinez) decided not to play,” Ramos concluded.